Piston-sing



I. E. BUTLER.

PISTON RING.

APPucAnpM men APR. 8, 1920.

1 79,246. Patented y 24, 1921.

mmmw-w n J E putter J'NVENTOR.

/ ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES JAY EDGAR BUTLER, 01F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PISTON-RING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Application filed April 8, 1920. Serial No. 372,295.

To all whom'z't may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY EDGAR BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Piston-Rings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descnption of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to piston rings especially adapted to be used upon the pistons of hydrocarbon explosive engines and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a piston ring with a triple wall at the joint between the ends of the members of the ring thereby preventing the escape of oil or compression at the joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ring of the character stated which is thin and flexible and the members of which are characterized in that their spring tension is of low degree thus making the rin structure pliable and enabling it to fit within a worn cylinder as well as in a cylinder which is perfectly cylindrical thereby preventing oil trouble and loss of compression.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ring of the character stated which consists of three pieces or members two of the said pieces or members being cast and composed of gray iron and these members are adapted to have contact with the inner surface of the cylinder. Therefore these relatively soft members or pieces will not have a tendency to wear the surface of the cylinder when the piston is reciprocating therein. The third piece or member is made of spring steel (heat treated) to resist the heat generated in the combustion chamber of the engine by the explosion. This piece is interposed between the two first mentioned pieces and the piston and acts to distribute its tension equally and evenly over the outer pieces or members of the rings whereby a perfect acking is maintained.

An advantage of this structural arrangement is that a heat resisting, long wearing, flexible construction of mechanical perfection is efi'ected giving the same amount of wall pressure to the (luar'ters as it gives to the heel and points 0 the outer ring members at their oints between their ends.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the piston ring.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

Fig 3 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the ring from that side shown in Fig. 2.

r Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the rin Big. 5 includes perspective views of the end portions of the ring spaced from each other.

Fi 6 is a similar View of one of the ring mem ers.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a'spring member used in the ring structure.

The improved piston ring comprises a ring member 1 which is cast from gray iron and which is provided at one edge with an outstanding flange providing at the outer side of the said member a recess 2 of usual pattern so that the ring member is of what may be termed an L shaped cross section. The ends 3 of the rin member 1 are normally spaced from each other but they may overlap each other vertically in a usual manner when the ring member is in position upon a piston. The ring member 1 is provided at a point approximately mid way between the ends with a pin. 4 the outer end of which is located in the recess 2. This pin is hereinafter referred to as a positioning stop. Therefore the pin 4 is approximately diametrically opposite the end 3 of the ring member 1. The piston ring also includes a ring member 5 which is adapted to lie in the recess 2 of the ring member 1 and the ring member 5 is provided at its end 6 with a notch 7 which is adapted to receive the pin 4. Therefore when the ring member 5 is applied to the ring member 1 the said ring members cannot move circumferentially with relation to each other.

The piston ring also includes a spring member 8 which is of steel (spring heat treated). When the parts are assembled the spring member 8 is located within the ring members 1 and 5 and when the ring is positioned in the groove of the piston the spring member 8 will exert an outward tension or pressure against the ring members 1 and 5 whereby the said ring members are held in proper contact with the inner surface of the cylinder and prevent the loss of compression and the escape of oil within the cylinder.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that a piston ring of simple and durable structure is provided and inasmuch as the outer members thereof are composed of soft cast metal they will 7 not Wear the inner surface of the cylinder as the piston reciprocates therein. Furthermore the inner member of the piston ring is composed of spring steel which bears a ainst the outer members and possesses su cient tension to sufiiciently spread the outer memfere'rrtial shoulder so that the ring is of L shaped cross section, the said ringmember having a positioning stop substantially opposite the ends of the ring member, a second one piece split ring member also of cast metal, seated in the recess and having its ends adapted to engage the positioning stop, the outer faces of said ring members forming a single substantially cylindrical surface 2. A piston ring comprising a one piece split rlng member of cast metal having on 7 its upper side a recess forming a circumferential shoulder so that the ring is of substantially L shaped cross section, the said ring member havin a. positioning means spaced away from its ends, a second one piece split ring member also of cast metal seated in the recess and having its ends adapted to e ge the positioning stop, the outer faces 0 said ri'n -members forming a substantially cylindrical surface and a thirdv member of spring metal also in the form of a ring within and bearing on the inner face of said first ring member, the ends of said ring being normally spaced away from the ends o'f the said. L shaped member. In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

, JAY EDGAR BUTLER;- Witnesses:

M. J. SGHAEFER,

HENRY A- STRoHMINGER. 

